Astra School for Learners with Special Educational Needs

As the term nears its end, we look back on the meaningful conversations and connections made during last month's parent meeting hosted at our school 🧑‍🧑‍🧒✨

Our school psychologist, Taryn Kelmovitz , presented an insightful session centred around the powerful concept of Connection Before Correction. Parents were encouraged to focus on understanding their children and learners first, building strong relationships that create a foundation for guidance, growth, and positive behaviour. The session also provided practical tools and strategies that families can use at home to strengthen connection and communication.

It was truly an informative and meaningful morning, offering parents and educators an opportunity to connect, share perspectives, and work together in support of our learners' success.

We are grateful to all the parents who attended and contributed to the discussion. When schools and families work together, we create the best possible environment for our learners to thrive, both academically and personally💙📚✨

Yesterday, our Grade 9 learners had the privilege of visiting the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre, where they were given the opportunity to deepen their understanding of one of history's most significant and heartbreaking events.

The visit was made even more meaningful through an insightful presentation by Aaron Peterer from the Anne House in the Netherlands, who shared powerful stories and experiences from the Holocaust era. His presentation encouraged reflection, empathy, and a deeper appreciation for the importance of human rights, tolerance, and remembering the lessons of the past.

Experiences such as these help bring history to life and inspire our learners to become thoughtful, informed, and compassionate global citizens.

We are always eager to provide our learners with meaningful learning opportunities beyond the classroom. If any museums, heritage sites, organisations, community groups, or other educational institutions would like to invite our learners to experiences that deepen their understanding of the past and help shape a better future, we would love to hear from you.

Please feel free to contact our school to explore potential opportunities for collaboration:

[email protected]💙

Astra School, enthusiastically hosted the wives of the New Apostolic Church’s District Apostle's from around the world.

The wives, each paired with our Astra learners, created art, listened to our recorder players making music, and simply shared in moments of connection.
In a beautiful reversal of roles, our guests concluded their visit by serving and feeding lunch to the young learners.

And, just like that, it was again time to say goodbye and part ways. However, beautiful moments like these never end...... it always linger much longer after the bus has left.

Indeed a memorable morning held gently in the heart-to be remembered for a very long time; maybe even forever! 🌟

Today’s Monday assembly was one to remember as we welcomed our special guest speaker, Ervè Bukasa, better known to many as EBtheKid from TikTok and other social media platforms ✨📱📸

With exams around the corner, he shared words of encouragement, motivation, and positivity with our learners, reminding them to believe in themselves and give their very best in the weeks ahead💪🌟

It was truly a pleasure having him visit our school, and our learners thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the experience. Thank you, EB, for taking the time to inspire and uplift our Astra family, your visit definitely made a lasting impression 🙌💙

Today, we’re giving a huge dose of appreciation to the heartbeats of our school, our incredible nurses, Nurse Theunissen and Nurse Rhoode! 💉💙

From bandaging bumps and bruises to offering comfort, care, and calm smiles on even the busiest days, these two truly deserve a standing ovation. Their kindness, patience, and dedication never go unnoticed, and Astra is so grateful for all the love they pour into our learners and staff each and every day.

Happy International Nurses’ Day to two nurses who always know how to *heal* our hearts and brighten our days 🌟🩺

Thank you for all that you do, Nurse Theunissen and Nurse Rhoode Astra appreciates you more than words can say 💙

🌸💙 Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Astra💙🌸

To all the moms who help our learners bloom and grow 💐

Today we celebrate the love, strength, patience, and care that mothers pour into every single day. Thank you for being the guiding stars behind our amazing learners and for helping them shine so brightly.

Our little ones also poured their hearts into making special cards and gifts for the amazing mothers and mother figures in their lives, small creations filled with lots of love and appreciation. 💌🎁

Wishing all our Astra moms a day filled with love, laughter, and a little extra spoiling, because mums like you are truly one of a kind💐

Learning takes place both inside and outside the classroom⛴️
On the 18 April 2026 the Grade 9's accompanied by Ms Van Buuren, Ms Chippendale and Class Assistant Ms Waseema Lee were off to Simon's Town for the Navy Festival.
A new world of possibilities was opened to learners⚓️

On 29 April, our Grade 9 learners had the pleasure of visiting Hugenote Library in Hugenote Square, Belhar📚
Thank you to the staff for welcoming and assisting our learners in developing a new love for libraries and also registering learners on SmartCape💻
We look forward to the partnership.
READERS BECOME LEADERS📖💙

We are so proud of ex learners Nokuthula (Nonnie) Yonke, Raymondo (Ray) Lessing , Diego (Digo) Saal and Thando Ngokwe for their achievements in para surfing🏄‍♀️🏄

We are especially proud of Raymondo and Nokuthula for holding onto their reigning champion titles. Their love for surfing all started at Astra during a Master's Degree study about surfing and physically challenged people and then proverbially "The rest is history".
Well done guys and girls...keep reaching for gold✨

To read the whole article, click on the link below.

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/cas/article/minister-ricardo-mackenzie-congratulates-cape-town-surfriders-five-national-titles